Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Portland State
GAME NOTES: 'Cats Head to Portland to Play Vikings
1/18/2023 9:57:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Thursday, January 19 | 7 PM MT
Portland, OR | Viking Pavilion
TV Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats:Â https://bit.ly/3ZIUWmL
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• Weber State women's basketball heads out for the west coast for a Big Sky Conference matchup against the Portland State Vikings. The improved Vikings (7-8, 2-3) have already surpassed their total wins and conference wins from the 2021-22 season.
• Weber State finished last season with 11 wins, including a win in the first round of the Big Sky Conference tournament in Boise. The 11 wins were a nine-win increase from the 2020-21 season - the highest increase in the Big Sky Conference.
• With the recent upward trajectory in the program, the Wildcats have high hopes for the '22-'23 season. WSU is eager to prove the doubters wrong after being picked seventh and ninth, respectively, in the Big Sky Conference preseason media and coaches polls.
• The 'Cats are amazingly returning 12 players from last year's team that catapulted the team in the right direction. The only other teams in the nation returning at least 12 other players are Columbia (13), Western Michigan (13), Liberty (12), and Rider (12).
• Among the returning players is 2021-22 all-conference performer Daryn Hickok. "Monka", as her family and teammates call her, averaged 15.2 ppg and 7.2 rpg last season. Her performance in the '21-'22 season earned her a spot on the '22-'23 Big Sky Preseason All-Conference Team. Hickok is averaging 16.9 ppg this season to lead Weber State, and currently sits in third on the Big Sky Conference leaderboard.
• Weber State's defense has been stifling this season. The Wildcats are second in the conference in opponent field goal percentage (.370) and opponent three point percentage (.287) despite facing some of the best shooting teams in the nation.Â
• With 28 points scored against Tarleton St. and NAU, Hickok has had several of her best offensive games in her storied career this season, falling just shy of tying her career high of 30 points. Her 28 points scored set a new season high. Averaging 16.9 PPG thus far this season, Hickok currently ranks third in scoring in the whole conference. She also ranks fourth in the conference in field goal percentage (.432).
• Jadyn Matthews was named to the all-tournament team in the Friar Thanksgiving Classic over Thanksgiving weekend.. She averaged over 13 points and seven rebounds per game in the tournament, and Weber State won two of its three games in Providence, Rhode Island. Matthews ranks in the top 10 in the Big Sky Conference in scoring (13.3 PPG) and rebounding (8.4 RPG). Matthews needs 11 points to become the 23rd Wildcat to join the 1,000-Point Club.
• Laura Taylor scored a career-high 18 points in Weber State's game against Providence over Thanksgiving weekend. She also had a career high of four three pointers made in the same game. She led the Wildcats in scoring and shooting against the Friars.
• Hickok paved the way for the Wildcats against the Vikings last season in Portland. The All-Conference performer scored 24 points and snatched 10 rebounds - leading the team in both categories - while Matthews added 17 points and 7 boards of her own as the 'Cats beat PSU 85-57 in Viking Pavilion.
